Question 1

What exactly is Deadnet?

Accepted Answer

Deadnet is an offline AI survival assistant delivered on a 32GB USB 3.2 drive. It contains two local language models (Llama 3.1 8B as the primary model, plus a lighter Llama 3.2 3B fallback for lower-RAM systems) and a curated knowledge base built from military and government survival sources indexed into 7,000+ searchable chunks. You plug it into any computer, double-click to launch, and ask questions through a browser-based chat interface. No internet connection required.

Question 2

What kind of questions can I ask?

Accepted Answer

Anything covered by the 15 knowledge categories: medical first aid, water purification, food preservation, foraging, shelter building, power generation, security, navigation, hygiene, barter/economics, mental health, community organization, legal rights, communications, and regional hazards. Deadnet excels at step-by-step procedures, technical specifications, and practical how-to guidance drawn from military and government field manuals.

Question 3

What computers does it work on?

Accepted Answer

Windows 10 or later, macOS 11 or later (Apple Silicon only — M1, M2, M3, or M4), and Linux (Ubuntu 20.04+). Your computer needs at least 8GB of RAM (16GB recommended) and a USB 3.0 or faster port. No software installation is required — just plug in and double-click Deadnet.exe, Deadnet.app, or Deadnet.AppImage for your OS. Note: Intel Macs are not supported.

Question 4

How fast are the responses?

Accepted Answer

First launch takes 1-3 minutes while the AI model loads into memory — you may see a blank window or a 'warming up' banner. The first question then takes another 30-90 seconds to answer. Subsequent questions are much faster. The model runs on your CPU, so response speed depends on your computer's processor.

Question 5

Can I add my own documents?

Accepted Answer

Not in V1. The knowledge base is pre-built and optimized at manufacturing time. The drive has roughly 23GB of free space you can use to store your own files, but they won't be indexed by the AI. Custom document indexing is planned for a future version.

Question 6

How do I know the AI isn't making things up?

Accepted Answer

Deadnet uses a technique called Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG). The AI can only answer from its curated knowledge base — verified sources from the US Army, FEMA, VA, and other government authorities. Every response includes source citations with document name and page number. If the knowledge base doesn't contain relevant information for your question, Deadnet says so explicitly rather than guessing.

Question 7

What happens if the USB drive gets damaged?

Accepted Answer

Contact support@deadnet.dev. If your drive is defective or damaged in shipping, we'll replace it at no cost. The USB drive uses standard flash memory — treat it like any USB drive (don't drop it in water, don't bend it, eject properly before removing).

Question 8

Does it work without a battery? What if the power is out?

Accepted Answer

Deadnet requires a computer to run. If you have a laptop with battery power, you can use Deadnet without wall power. For extended off-grid use, pair it with a portable solar charger or battery pack for your laptop.

Question 9

Will an EMP destroy the USB drive?

Accepted Answer

USB flash drives have no active electronics when unplugged — they're passive flash memory chips and a connector. They're significantly more resilient to EMP than devices with active circuits. The larger concern is whether you'll have a working computer to plug it into. Any computer that survives an EMP event can run Deadnet.

Question 10

Does Deadnet collect any data?

Accepted Answer

No. Deadnet runs entirely offline with zero network capability. It cannot send data anywhere. Your questions, responses, and usage are not logged, tracked, or transmitted. When you shut down Deadnet, your conversation history is erased from memory.

Question 11

What does it cost?

Accepted Answer

Nothing during the beta. Deadnet is currently free for accepted beta testers in exchange for product feedback and bug reports. When Deadnet officially launches with paid pricing, beta testers will be notified in advance and offered discounted lifetime pricing.

Question 12

How do I request beta access?

Accepted Answer

Click any 'Request Beta Access' button on the site — it opens your mail app with a pre-filled email to support@deadnet.dev asking for your name, location, computer, and a sentence on why you want to try it. Our team reviews each request personally. If it's a fit, we'll reply and ship you a drive within a few business days.

Question 13

How long does shipping take?

Accepted Answer

Accepted beta requests are assembled and shipped within 2-3 business days. Standard US shipping is 5-7 business days. Each drive is individually tested with our 10-query QA battery before shipping.

Question 14

Do you ship internationally?

Accepted Answer

Not currently. Deadnet ships within the United States only. International shipping is being evaluated for a future phase.

Question 15

What if my drive doesn't work?

Accepted Answer

Email support@deadnet.dev. If your drive arrives physically damaged or won't run on a compatible computer, we'll replace it at no cost. Beta drives are free, so there is no refund — but a working drive is on us.

Frequently Asked Questions

General

Technical

Beta Access & Shipping